About five years ago, a patient who underwent a trans-abdominal tubectomy at the Cuddalore district headquarters hospital died due to complications. It turned out that the surgeon had injured her intestines and failed to recognise this after she developed abdominal distension and vomiting in the post-operative period. By the time he called for help and another operation was performed, the patient was in poor shape. The patient's husband approached the courts, which recently ruled that the doctor was criminally negligent and ordered his arrest. The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association threatened a strike if the government did not appeal the ruling and provide them with security and insurance against legal proceedings by patients. The government has promised to help.